Florida man arrested in murder-for-hire of IRS employee

United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill, Melissa Chedotal, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Atlanta Field Division and Steven Ibison, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tampa Field Office, today announced the arrest of Randy Nowak, age 48, of Mulberry, Florida.

Nowak is charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to murder an employee of the United States, specifically the IRS, related to the performance of her official duties, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1114. The maximum penalties Nowak faces if convicted on all counts are 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

According to the complaint, Nowak attempted to hire a hit man to kill the IRS Revenue Officer because she was investigating his personal and professional tax liabilities to the IRS. Nowak is the owner of RJ Nowak Enterprises, Inc., a Polk County construction company. On July 29, 2008, Nowak met with an undercover FBI Task Force agent posing as a hit man and paid him $10,000 as a down payment for killing the IRS employee. Nowak also asked the undercover agent if he would be willing to burn down the IRS's office in Lakeland.

"On behalf of the United States Attorney's Office, I commend law enforcement and their vigorous pursuit of Mr. Nowak. Targeting a government official with death for simply doing one's job is an outrage and law enforcement's response was swift and decisive," said United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill.

"The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration works aggressively to protect IRS employees from individuals who seek to impair the integrity of tax administration by threatening harm or committing violent acts," said Melissa Chedotal, special agent in charge of TIGTA's Atlanta field division.

"The FBI considers threats of violence against United States Government employees due to their enforcement and or investigative activities very serious matters and this case is a good example of our commitment to aggressively pursuing those responsible," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Ibison.

The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Mulberry Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Riedel. A complaint is merely a charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.